Leon McFarlane

Cell-based Assay Scientist position within the Analytical Development team. Subject Matter Expert Cell-based Assay development – Quantitative Potency FRET-based activity assay development to be utilised for EMERALD trial (PHASE II). Contribution and lead of RTX Potency assay matrix, Qualification of release assays (ICHQ2 and ICHQ6), Extended characterisation and CDMO Technology Transfers. Involved with Biological Product Stability Testing and Feasibility (ICHQ5C). Mental Health First Aider and committee member.

PC System built upon request ! Ranging from Office PCs to Advanced Machine Learning Systems PC hardware and software upgrade consultancy available

Mucosal Immunogenecity testing under GCLP standards Role: Member of the GCLP arm of the Robin Shattock Group. Practice various immunological assays focusing on secondary and exploratory endpoints. Investigation(s): Human Clinical Trial Phase I/II and Animal study (Rhesus and Cynomolgus macaques) sample processing, secondary and exploratory endpoints. Contributed to assay development, optimisation and standardisation for various trials along with designing original sampling methods to be used in a clinical establishment. Laboratory Techniques: - PBMC Isolation - Indirect/ Direct and Sandwich ELISA - B cell/ T cell / Live Plasmablast ELISPOTs - Virus Luciferase Neutralisation Assays - Flow Cytometry (Surface and Intracellular staining) - MesoScale Discovery (MSD) Assays (Multiplex) - Various molecular biology techniques (DNA/RNA Extraction, qPCR/PCR and Gel Electrophoresis) - Cell culture and maintenance - Lab Husbandry etc

I worked part time at Sainsbury’s PLC as a Night Shift Stock Controller. As a competent member of the night team, I was involved in the receiving and organisation of deliveries as well as the assigning of staff to specific tasks throughout the night to make the shop presentable and replenished for morning trade.

Main investigation: Heterologous expression of PfHT/Glut1 on Xenopus Laevis oocytes for drug screening Supervisor: Training undergraduate work experience students for 2 months to give an underlying understanding of research Acquired Skills: Lab husbandry, Agresso ordering system, PCRs, Oocyte microinjections, DNA Miniprep, Gel electrophoresis, Gel extraction, RNA extraction, Site Directed Mutagenesis (SDM), mRNA synthesis, Radiotracer assays, liquid yeast assays and yeast and bacteria transformations

As a competent petrol station assistant I had the responsibility of running tills, giving good customer service, code checking, petrol filling maintenance and stocking . Occasionally I done over time in the main store working on tills, as an assistant or as a 'putbacks' assistant

Modules: Advanced Immunology Clinical Immunology Immunology of Parasitic Infection Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Attended BSI 2013 Conference in Liverpool Dissertation: The characterisation of Natural Killer cell CD57 epitope Acquired skills: MACS, Surface and intracellular staining, Flow cytometry, ELISA, RT-PCR, SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis, Immuno-precipitation, tissue culture, cytokine stimulation and killing (K562) assays

By studying a BSc in Biomedical science it has bought to my attention the importance of vertebrates having an integrated immune system. The immune system is a constellation of biological structures working in tandem to remove invasive parasites via unfathomable intricate processes. During my second year of university I undertook an investigation based on 'Malaria and its evolutionary effects on red blood cells' which covered the immunological and genetic aspects of malarial disease. After enjoying the investigation content I progressed further to take the modules: ‘Immunity and Infection’, ‘Clinical immunology’ and ‘Biology of Cancer’ for my final year with my lab based research project on ‘Characterisation of a Plasmoduim Falciparum transport channel’ Final year modules: Biology Of Cancer Immunity and Infection Clinical Immunology Dissertation: The Localisation of the TgCAX Transporter